Speed regulator



March 18 1924. 1,487,314

M. P. CHAPLIN S FEED REGULATOR Filed Dec. 19 1921 Patented Mar. 18, 1924;

UNITED sTArEs 1,487,314 PATENT OFFICE.

MERLE P. CHAPLIN, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPEED REGULATOR.

Application filed December 19, 1921. Serial No. 523,602.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERLE P. CHAPLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at White Plains, in. the county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed li egulatois, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to regulators and particularly to speed controlling apparatus which is responsive to centrifugal force.

An object of the inventionis to provide a regulator which is inexpensive, efficient and reliable. 7

Another object is theprovision of a regulator having a plurality of adjusting means, at least one of which may be varied while the regulator .is functioning.

Another object is to provide a regulator in which the controlling contacts are opened and closed regularly during each revolution,

the duration of time the contacts are openedand closed being dependent upon the speed of the regulator and the adjustment thereof.

The invention, in the embodiment disclosed, comprises a pair of circuit-controlling contacts, one of which is stationary and the other arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with the former, by means of a regulator mounted on the shaft of the deviceto be controlled, and arranged to push the movable contact away from the stationary one once during each revolution of the regulator.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a regulator embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows the regulator in a different position;

Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit, illustrating the controlling contacts and the device controlled thereby.

The circuit-controlling contacts 1 and 2 are included in a circuit with the apparatus to be controlled. The movable contact 2 is normally held in engagement with the stationary contact 1 by means of a spring 3, provided with a micrometer screw adjustment 4 for varyin the tension of the spring 3, and consequently the force necessary to separate the movable contact from the stationary one. I

The means for opening and closing contacts 1 and 2, in general, comprise an L-shaped member 5, actuated by centrifugal understood in the art.

force, and a horizonally movable member 6, both of which are supported by a bracket 7 rigidly secured to a rotatable shaft 8 of the motor or ap aratus to be controlled.

The mem er 6, which has the free end thereof formed in the shape of a pin, is mounted slightly off center with respect to the shaft 8, and during each revolution thereof it engages a bevelled surface or inclined plane 9 attached to the movable contact support 10, thereby moving the contact 2 out of and into engagement with the contact 1 at definite recurring intervals, which, in the embodiment disclosed, would be once per revolution.

The distance that the free end of the L-shaped member 5 may move due to centrifugal force, is controlled by a helical spring 11 attached in an eye-in a projecting portion of the member 5 and an eye in an adjustable screw 12.

In Fig. 3 there is shown in schematic form a circuit arrangement of the regulator in combination with a motor 13, the speed of which it is desired to regulate. In order to protect the contacts 1 and 2 against s arking, a shunt circuit thereof is established through a condenser 14 upon the closure of these contacts, the action of which is well The regulator, being secured to the shaft 8 of the motor 13, re-

volves with the motor armature and the con-- trifugal force thereby set up has a tendency to move one end of the L-shaped member 5 outwardly, thereby movi the member 6 in a horizontal direction. onsequently such amovement of the member 6 tends to separate contacts 1 and 2 due to the movement of the contact support 10 under the control of the helical spring 3. In order to adjust the member 5 to require the application of a certain amount of centrifugal force which corresponds with a predetermined speed ,of the motor armature before the member 6 will be moved through a distance sufficient to maintain the contacts 1 and 2 open, the screw 12 is adjusted to place a suitable ten? sion on the control spring 11. With the tension on the control spring 11 adjusted so that a certain amount of centrifugal force is required to move the member 5 outwardly, which corresponds approximately to the prescribed speed of the motor armature, the tenthat possible with the spring 11. Furthermore, the tension on the spring 3 may be adjusted during rotation of the regulator.

During rotation of the shaft 8 and the regulator mounted thereon, the contact support 10 will be moved by the member 6 so that the contacts 1 and 2 will be separated once for each revolution of the shaft 8. In other words, the action of the pin in the member 6 upon the inclined plane 9 is similar to the operation of an eccentric.

Jpon the closure of the switch 15, contact is made between the segments 16 and 17, and this switch, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3) so that the resistance 18 is shortcircuited. Thus, the field winding 20 and the armature winding of the motor 13 receive the full potential of the source of current 19. However, upon thepassage of the switch 15 off of segment 17, the resistance 18 is connected in series with the source of current 19, the field winding 20, and the armaturewinding of the motor 13. Also when the contacts 1 and 2 are closed, the governing resistance 21 is short-circuited So that this resistance has no effect on the cur rent supplied to the field and armature windings of the motor 13. However, upon "illE opening of the contacts 1 and 2, this resistance 21 is connected in series with the field winding 20 and armature winding of the motor 13, and consequently tends to regulate the speed of the motor. As previously described, due to the action of the member 6, which forms an eccentric, the overning resistance 21 will be connecte in circuit with the windings of the motor 13 at regular recurring intervals.

hat is claimed is:

1. The combination of a pair of circuit-controlling contacts, one of which is stationary and the other movable, and rotary means responsive to centrifugal force for opening and closing said contacts a predetermined number of times per revolution.

2. In combination a pair of circuit-controlling contacts at least one of which is movable, centrifugal means for actuating said movable contact, and a plurality of spring tension adjustments for varying the centrifugal force required to operate said contact.

3. A regulator for opening and closing an electrical circuit comprising means mounted on a rotatable shaft and responsive to ccntrifugal force, and a plurality of means for varying the force required to render said centrifugally actuated means responsive, at least one of said means being capable of adjustment while the regulator is functioning.

4. In combination, a motor. a rotating shaft controlled thereby, a member rotatable with said shaft and influenced by centrifugal force, means for opposing the effect of such force, contacts controlled bv said memher. and means operated by said memb-er for causing the operation of said contacts a predetermined number of times per revolution.

5. In a speed governor, a motor. a rota-table shaft controlled thereby, a movable member adapted to travel with said shaft and to be influenced by centrifugal force. a helical spring foropposing the action of such force, contacts controlled by said member, and an eccentric forming a part of said member for actuating said contacts.

6. In combination a motor a rotating shaft controlled thereby, a member r0tatable with said shaft and influenced bv centrifugal force, contacts controlled bi said member. and apair of helical springs for varying the action of said member on said contacts.

7. In a speed governtm a rotatable shaft, :1 motor for operating said shaft, a member secured to and rotatable with said shaft and influenced by centrifugal force. means for opposing the effect of such force. a fie ible spring carrying a contact controlled bv said member, and means fixed to said member for causing the operation of said spring and contact at least once per rcvolution. H

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th da of December, A. 1)., 1921.

MERLE P. (iI-IAPLIN. 

